Monorailroad.



T. C. SPELLING. MONORAILROAD PPLIUATION FILED JUNE s Patented July28, 1914.

THlDHAS CARL SPELLING, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

MONOMILBGAD.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July es', 1914.

Application lcd June B, 19M. Serial No. 843,765.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. SPELLING,

.` y, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ylork, in the county of New York .and

Lili

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Monorailroads, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in monorailroad systems, and articularly to that type of system illustrated, for example, in my Patent No. 1058481, issued Apri 8, 1913. In the structure of my said patent, it will be observed that I provided at the opposite sides of the car resiliently mounted rollers adapted'to traverse a pair of grooved rails mounted ou the frame work constituting the train way, the purpose of such structure being to maintain the car in an erect position while the car is stationary and to minimize oscillation when the car is 1n movement, all as will be clear to persons skilled in the art.

As distinguished from the above stated arrangement, t-he present im rovements contemplate, in combination with other useful instrumentalities, the provision of outwardly thrust rollers and coperating rails arranged at the top or above the car in order to brmg these means, as nearly as practicable directly above the centrally disposed car wheels, or the center of gravity of the car, where the cushionin devices are rendered more acute, so to spea in that they may have a greater mutual coaction or influence upon each other, as the car may tend to swa 1n op osite directions, than is possible W ere suc devices are relatively remotely associated, as is of necessity the case where the are entirely diminct and mounted `in a lhwer position along the sides of the car.

I will illustrate herein and hereinafter specifically describe, the preferred embodiment of my invention, and from such disclosure the nature and advantages of the many improved details of construction and arrangement ciated.

yIn theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof, and wherem the preferred em- `bodiment of the invention to which I have alluded is illustrated Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the framework,

of parts will be duly appre-l and associated structure, constituting the way within which the car or train'is to travel, and similarly showing in section a car provided with improvements constituting the subject matter of this case,` and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the car way showingg-in a manner somewhat diagrammatic,--a car within such way. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, whereinlike reference characters des ignate the same part in the two views, A

represents a series of closely associated triy i angular metallic frames suitably reinforced at the corners thereof by plates a and by similarly reinforced cross bars B, convenlentlylocated at the upper portions of the frames, said frames being tied to ther at the predetermined distances apart y metallic bars C, of any suitable ably running along the sides of the `frame and the apices thereof.

The bottoms of the frames are firmly fixed by means serving therewith to form a road bed, for example, like the subject matter of my aforesaid patent and not necessa to be discussed in detail herein, save by a uding to the fact that on this road bed is suitab y mounted a monorail D, centrally disposed with reference to the base members of the triangular frames A, in position to be engaged -by the corresponding centrally arranglfd traction wheels E supporting the car The car F may obviously be of any approved style or construction, but in keepin with my lpresent conception the same shoul have a s eleton or frame-Work of suitably reinforced metal, represented in a general way at f in order to. properl support and resist the lateral strains inci ent to the operation of the parts now to be defined.

To relieve the car of shock, and prevent possible damage, flowing from the lateral or sidewise sway of the car when in motion, as also to maintain the car in its true vertical position when not in motion, I provide a air of tracks G secured to the trian lar rames at the juncture of the side barst ereof with the cross-bars B, these tracks being of angular cross section, as shown, reinforced by diagonal webs g, and having in their vertical faces roller grooves g adapted to accommodate horizontally rotating rollnumber, prefer! i mentioned.

ers H thrust outwardly and maintained in contact'with the tracks G under resilient pressure, as will soon be obvious.

J are a pair of nested spring plates oite iJ-ormation with their upper terminals spaced apart and their lower terminals superposed and fiXedly secured by suitable bolting K or otherwise tof strong metal top members L secured and carried by the metal framework of the car, the plates just re erred to b eing |of dishedformation, or hollow, to provide depending edge flanges Z at the sides of the car. The spaced terminals of said springplates J, -offset horizontally, .carry therebetween the' similarly arranged rounded-edge rollers Vl-l before lny many instances, the spring plates will be adequate to sustain the can againstA lateral-swaying tendencies, but to meet more severe conditions, an auxiliary-cushioningnieans is aiorded, the same being in the nature of a Huid (conveniently air) cushion, comprising a cylinder M, either formed in tegrally with the top plate i -securely thereto, the, cylinder` being pro- A"vided With va valve-controlled supply pipe m, and oppositelv disposed pistons IN linked.l by pivoted mem ers n to the, spring plates'l J, with a coiled spring @interposed etwee'n said pistons.

yBy the foregoing arrangement,- it'will be seen that three yieldably-resistiiig and shock absorbing elements are furnishedin my im-v proved mechanism, namely the spring plates y. Jthefconined air within the cylinder intermediate of the pistons N, and the'spring occupying. the. same relation to. the saidpis-` tons, ,pv-Thesey elements combined mutually coact tokeep bothV rollers H iii engage,

nient Withtheir. respective tracks J at all 'tending to right times foras` they are compressed. by lateral tilting ,ofthe car against Ione track in one direction, they exert a corresponding ,op-v posite `(pressure: oiizthey A.other track, thus the carl and lrestore Ait to its' position. of normal. equilibrium.

The. vspring when compressed, will servel as a stop preventingfurther movenient of the pistons and thereby limit the t swaying Imovement of the car.A

E is lclaimed is:

While l haveherein set `forth a special embodiment oflmy invention, it is with the realization,as Willalso appear to persons skilled in the art to which the .invention appertains,that said invention is .capable of embodiment in other forms and devices,- as may be L,in accordance with the hereto appended claims.

c Having thus described the invention, what 51. ln a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car-Way having guide rails at 'the sides thereof, oppositely disposed rollerscarried by the car adapted to L or bolted. l

described, a `suitable car-Waylhaving guidel for resilientlyy maintainin engage said rails, andfmcans vfor resiliently maintaining said rollers in. engagement with the rails comprising spring plates secured to the car and carrying the rollers at their free ends.

2. ln a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car-way having guide rails at the sides thereof, oppositely` disposed rollers carried by the car adapted to engage said rails, and means for resiliently maintaining said rollers in engagement with the rails comprising spring plates secured to the car and4 carrying the. rollers Iat their free ends,

described, a suitable car-wayhaving guide rails' at the sides I posed rollers 4carried by the' car adapted to engage means rollers in engagement with the rails.

el. Ina railroad system. of the character said plates consisting: of two members' nested together fastened at one'end to the.. car, and separated atthe other end torte- ,comniodate the rollers therebetween, y' .j 3. In railroad {ystei'n'lof the characteri thereof, oppositely dis" 'said rails, and fluid pressureV for resiliently maintaining said,l

Aac

rail's 'at the -side's thereof, oppositelyfdis-'. posed rollers carried by'. the car adapted tof engage. said rails, and Fluid pressure means'' e, said' rollersinl comprising a" 'cylinder mounted at vthertop. of the "car,` and: pistons workingI inl saidI cylinder and con-1, 'nected to said" rollers. "f Q4 5. In a railroad system` of'l'thecharacter described, a suitable caniv'ay" having' rails at the 4vsides 'thereofpoppositely disposed rollers carried'bfy the ca'ra'dapted to engagel `said rails, and means for resiliently ymain-'iv engagement with' the rails. D l .l 7

taining said yrollers in engagement with the rails comprising,pistondike. members confv nected to the rollers, -and a spring'inte'rposedvtherebetween` actingnormallyfto force saidl rollers apart.. 'l

v G. 'ln a'railroad system of the character 4 a suitable 'car-way having guide described, rails at the sides thereof, oppositely 'fd-is-A posed yrollers 'carried by' the' car adapted' to engage .saidrailsfandvmeans for resiliently- 4maintaii'iiifig r`s a'id :rollers in engage' ment with y the rails",'gi n1 y combination jwith means acting as astdpgto limit. the'yieldingmoveinent of the, ro'llers,l

-7. In `I a brailroad system! :off theY character described, a' suitableI car-way' having guide rails ,at'the sides j thereoand means forresilieiitly ymanita'ining'i said vrollers in engagemeiit withthe rails, comprising Ayieldable'y armsl carrying the "rollers," and tfliii pressure means associated With said arii's,

8.' ln a railroad systemfofthe character described, a suitable fear-way having guide rails at the sidesj'thereof, andfmeans for, i'esilien'tly, maintain'iiig','saidv5 rollers in enf` gagementrwit-h the rails comprising yieldiic able arms carrying the rollers, and fluid pressure means associated with said arms, said last mentioned means comprising a cylinder and oppositely disposed'pistons worl ing therein.

9. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car-way having guide rails at the sides thereof, and means for resiliently maintaining said rollers in engagement with the rails comprising yieldable arms carrying the rollers and Huid pressure means associated with said arms, said last mentioned means comprising a cylinder and oppositely disposed pistons .Working therein, in combination with a spring interposed between the pistons.

10. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable ear-way having oppositely disposedl guide rails, correspondingly disposed members carried by the car ada ited to engage said rails, and means or resiliently maintaining said members in engagement with the rails, comprising spring plates secured to the car and carrying the members at their free ends.

11,. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car-Way having oppositely disposed guide rails, correspondingly disposed members carried by the ear adapted to engage said rails, and means for resili ently maintaining said members in engagement with the rails, comprising spring plates secured to the car and carrying the members at their free ends, and means for restricting the yielding movement of said plates.

12. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car Way having oppositely disposed guide rails, correspondingly disposed members carried by the car adapted to engage said rails, and fluid pressure mea-ns for resiliently maintaining said rollers in engagement with the rails, substantially as described.

13. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car-Way having oppositely disposed guide rails, correspondingly disposed members adapted to engage said rails, a top plate secured to the car frame, and means carried by said top plate for resiliently maintaining said members in engagement with the rails, substantially as described. lst. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car-vay having oppositely disposed guide rails, correspondingly disposed members adapted to engage said rails, a top plate secured to the car frame, and means carried by said mp plate for resiliently maintaining said members in engagement with the rails, said top plate having depending flanges adapted to engage the side portions of the car.

15. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable car--way having oppositely disposed guide rails, correspondingly disposed members carried by the car adapted to engage said rails, and Huid pressure means for resiliently mantaining said members in engagement with the rails, in combination with other means for supporting said members in operative position relative to the rails. f

16. In a railroad system of the character described, a suitable carmf'ay having oppositely disposed guide rails, correspondingly disposed members adapted to engage said rails, a top plate secured to the cari'rame, and means carried by the top plate for resiliently maintaining said members in engage ment with the rails comprising fluid pressure means for resisting the yielding move ment of the members, and other means for supporting said members in operative posi tion relative to the rails.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence ot two witnesses. THOMAS CARL SPlClJlQ-ING. fitnesses Josnrir E. Lamina, IVALTER C. I'IARDING. 

